Fern Friskey

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Friskey, Fern age 93, died on Sunday, April 23, 2017. Fern was born in Wakonda, South Dakota on November 20, 1923, the daughter of Olai and Elsie Ostrem. When she was four years old her family moved to a dairy farm near Clear Lake, Wisconsin. Fern graduated from high school in Clear Lake. Following graduation, she went to Minneapolis to work in the office of Lincoln McWhinney, an insurance agent. She put herself through college, and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1946 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Fern met her husband, Bud, the love of her life, at the University and they married following graduation. Fern worked as a Social Worker for Hennepin County and for many years as a School Social Worker for the Minneapolis Public Schools. She found her career extremely satisfying, and retired in 1989. Fern and Bud lived in Richfield and raised their three daughters, Martha, Marilyn, and Maureen. Fern was a long time and very active member of Plymouth Congregational Church. She taught Sunday School and enjoyed volunteering with neighborhood and social justice programs associated with Plymouth. In retirement, Fern served as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem with Hennepin County. Fern loved reading, gardening, and was a wonderful cook and hostess. Her chocolate chip cookies were the best! She and Bud enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad. Central to her life was her relationship with her family. Fern and Bud's lives were also rich with many cherished friendships through church, work and their neighborhood. Fern is survived by her three daughters, Martha (Ed) Van Hemert, Marilyn Mahmud and Maureen (Paul) Tanis; her grandchildren, Carrie Van Hemert, Ann (Troy) Allen, Shawn (Sarah) Mahmud, Jeff (Amy) Mahmud, Adam Mahmud, Peter (Anna) Tanis, Patrick Tanis and Philip Tanis (fiancée Whitney); her great grandchildren, Faith Allen, Jonah, Josie, and Eloise Mahmud, and Audrey and Emma Tanis; her niece, Linda (Craig) Olson, her nephews Steven (Bobbi) Jackson, and John (Barb) Dolmar, and her Peterson cousins. Fern was preceded in death by her husband John (Bud), her son-in-law, Khalid Mahmud, her parents, Olai and Elsie Ostrem, and her sister, Lucille Jackson. A memorial service for Fern will be held on Saturday, April 29 at 2:00 at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis. A reception and chance to greet the family will follow. Memorials may be directed to Plymouth Congregational Church Habitat for Humanity Fund.

Published on April 28, 2017